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Modifications for ocean passage sailing (1)

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 461 / 470
Forum Description: 461 / 470 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8316
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:51
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Topic: Modifications for ocean passage sailing (1)
Posted By: Kytho
Subject: Modifications for ocean passage sailing (1)
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 17:17
This winter I put some efforts into upgrading my Hanse 470e for longer distances. Below and in the next topic I describe some of them (not in order of importance) and provide photographs when possible.

HANDHOLDS
I started with what many of you may have done already early on: installing handholds for the helmsman. Measurements and sketches led to the following construction plan.


In winter we could finally mount them:



There are holders for water bottles built into them (dehydration being a serious issue on long passages). The handholds are bolted into the sidewalls of the cockpit benches from inside. So part of the inner lining had to be cut to drill the holes and insert the screws; these holes were subsequently covered with a mirror.



Handrails were also designed and mounted inside the boat. First of all two long handrails on the ceiling on both sides for walking:



Each of these was accompanied by a smaller bar further to the side, allowing to hang up nets on the ceiling for fruits and vegetables.



In the galley we installed a strong grab pole on the wall towards the aft cabin and one to protect the stove, to which we can belt ourselves when cooking:






STORAGE
I think that one of the biggest challenges for an ocean crossing will be the problem of where to put all the extra stuff (food, tons of replacement parts, sails, water, etc.). There are so few cupboards and lockers!  One solution to this problem is to sacrifice the shower in the main bathroom; we removed it and built boards where we can put boxes with food:





The other solution was to install bars along the double bed in the front cabin. These will allow to store large boxes with gear on the bed (which we can anyway not use in rough sea); they will not slide down when the boat heels. The two bars can be removed for normal cruising:





Leesails: I attached Tenax buttons on the cabin table and on the seat underneath, so that a leesail can be fastened for a person to sleep there.





The two bars bisecting the double bed in the front cabin can also serve as lee-sail:




RIGGING
Inner forestay and running backstays: We installed an extra forestay that can be used at two positions, but can also be removed (i.e. attached on the side, when the self tacking jib is in use).


The attachments on the deck were reinforced with steel backings: one of the Wichard double padeyes is mounted close to the bow (with an under-deck backing plate and an extension to the steel plate on the bow)...





... and another is installed just in front of the large hatch (also with a backing plate and an under-deck extension onto the bulkhead separating the anchor-locker and the fore toilet):









The length of the forestay is trimmed to the aft position (where it serves e.g. for a storm sail) and can be extended with an 0.5m extension for fixation at the fore position (for a working jib that can be projected out to weather with a pole). Running backstays were also mounted and can be attached on the coaming via padeyes that have been reinforced from under deck with steel plates:







Heavy weather: an extreme 3rd reef was inserted into the main sail. It will be a two line reef: the aft line is preinstalled in the boom (at the expense of the topping lift, which is now operated at the mast; it will be attached to the 3rd reef cringle with an Antal snap hook, and can then be taken in with the winch from the cockpit. An 0.5m strap will connect the luff cringle with a Wichard eye on the mast.






Other issues (energy, deckgear and water) will be dealt with in the next "topic".







Replies:
Posted By: davidefoce
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 17:38
You are crazy , but i ve appreciate your job, compliments!!!

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The important is: Floating everytime


Posted By: plattgatt
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 17:54
Perfekt!!
Perfect, in particular the 3/4 Reff, already tested?


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370#641 "aqua d`or"


Posted By: samba
Date Posted: 22 April 2014 at 08:11
Hello,

Thanks for sharing all your hard work.

What is your (planned) sail plan?

Cheers,

Michiel


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Samba - Hanse 411 - Bruinisse


Posted By: superliga
Date Posted: 22 April 2014 at 14:14
Very nice work and preparation.

I don't think your saloon table will be up to the job of holding a sleeping grown man on a port tack. 

Did you crawl your mast and inspect for cracks / stress signs?


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PEARL - S/Y SUPERLIGA - HANSE 470 e - Hull #168 - hanse470.com


Posted By: NIRVANA III
Date Posted: 08 December 2014 at 11:38
Clap
Hello from Spain
Good work Kytho
Very good ideas

Now I am preparing the boat to cross the Atlantic and I will have to go well

Thank you very much


Posted By: NIRVANA III
Date Posted: 10 December 2014 at 12:07
Hi Kytho

Good afternoon

Any questions? that halyard raise the sails. (jib and storm jib)

Thank you



Posted By: sailkoop
Date Posted: 13 February 2015 at 16:02
Hi Nirvana,
why you are using two Position for the inner forestay. Normally, you are running the with the Selftacker or an 105% Genua on the original forestay. The inner forestay is for a Jib 3 or a Stromsail. 

Can you explain me the reason why, please.



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best regards

Bjoern





Posted By: sailingmaster
Date Posted: 27 January 2016 at 17:00
I'm sorry to ask, but what is this rust on the top? From where this rust coming? Hanse just put iron bolts? I would afraid to go on this boat around the world.


Posted By: tDot
Date Posted: 17 February 2017 at 06:00
Hello Kytho,

Thank you for your very informative posts! It's great to see what other people are doing.  

I've purchased a 505, and I'm considering the pros/cons of some modifications similar to yours.  Have you had a chance to use your 3rd reef in the main sail?  Inner Forestay and storm sail?   How well was the boat balanced with this setup?  Was there anything that you did that you wouldn't do again?  What were the items that you were happiest with?

How have you found the solbian panels?  Are they overly affected by shading in the configuration that you chose?

Thanks
Todd


Posted By: cptgood
Date Posted: 15 April 2018 at 19:07
Hi,
how are the ceiling handrails fixed inside the boat? 
thanks 


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Hanse320 - Hull#127/08 - Wheel - ST headsail - Yanmar 3YM30 - SD20


Posted By: gregd
Date Posted: 17 July 2018 at 16:49
Hi.

Very interesting post with a lot of great info. I like handrails very much, especially near the galley. Lack of handrails in a cabin definitely is a bummer. 

I just made a passage from USA North-East via Bermuda to Caribbean and back. I have 3 reefs on a main. The third reef is a must. When wind start blowing 25+ the third reef and storm jib become real things.

First reef is optional, because no one reefs until wind blows around 20kn, but it is time for the second reef already. However, we used the first reef on the passage during the night, to relieve strain on a watch person.

As additional equipment, i would suggest to put another pair of the main winches. In this case you can make storm jib as a self tacker run sheets form the main jib via snatch blocks or antal rings to the second pair of winches. 
Also i would suggest to add Dutchman boom brake. It will really help sailing down the wind and avoid accidental jibes. Boom brake works like a charm. Just run the boom brake lines to the second pair of the winches. Down the wind the second pair of the winches are very helpful to manage the spinnaker as well.

For the spinnaker blocks, rings i would suggest to add strong padeyes with the backing plates/washers near rear cleat. Very convenient for spinnaker as well as attachment point for the running backs. 

Using tangs for the back runners looks like bit excessive. I have hooks with the fixed rectangle at the end, make the rectangle holes in tha mast and just slide hooks into the hole. Works like a charm. Also I am using 3/8 dyneema line form the mast to the air block, instead of SS cable. It makes rigging easier and decrease weight up to the mast. B&G electronics on top of companionway also helps a lot. Helmsman can easily see what is going on, without lowering their eyes which is very convenient for the night watches.





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greg



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